Amritsar - 15 - 16 April - A place not to be missed

Traveller 1: "You mean u are not going to Amritsar? Have u seen the photos?"
Traveller 2: "Once you have seen Golden Temple in Amritsar, you would forget about Taj Mahal".

Amritsar wasn't in our planned itinerary as the guidebook says it's not exactly a very exciting city except dusts and pollution. And it's far off near Pakistan border!

After leaving Dharamsala, we decided to head there for a day to see for ourselves how magnificent Golden Temple is before heading to the holy river - Varanasi and Rishikesh.

Apart from Golden Temple, the guidebook recommended that we go to the India- Pakistan border for flag lowering ceremony. Since we had the taxi (cos we din want to wake up early to take the 5am bus public bus!) to bring us from Dharamsala to Amritsar, might as well make used of it. It was a interesting experience though we would not highly recommend it as our driver got lost and the journey just seemed forever!

Golden temple is the mecca for Sikhs. It was an extraordinary experience at the Golden Temple and we understood more of the religion.

1) Sikhism was started by a man who believed that everyone is equal and not to be discriminated, particularly in India where the caste system decides a person's destiny. Hence, believers adopt the surname Singh after they convert to Sikhism. (one can tell which caste a person belongs to from the family name) Now we know why all their last name is Singh!

2) It is a open religion and accepts anyone from any all walks of life. This is exemplify by the 4 doors open on all four sides in order to be able to welcome travelers from all directions.

3) The temple is opened almost 24 hours for worship and provides free food (24 hours daily) and free accommodation to anyone.

4) We experienced openness, sincerity, genuine kindness and generosity by the people in the temple. Every few minutes, different people will walk to us asking if we need explanation of the rituals, invited us to view their ceremony, offer free food, ask if we are keen to understand more of Sikhism etc... Felt totally embrace by them.

We spent almost 24 hours in the temple visiting day and night to soak in the atmosphere and also watching the movements in the temple. It was indeed an unforgettable experience!! Thanks to all the fellow travellers for recommending!

Border gates between India and Pakistan

Uniform of the guards

Check out the crowd shouting "India"!

Expressions of patriotism

Ceremony starting...

Pakistan guards

Lowering of both countries flags..

Golden temple in the night..
(note: this is not a postcard shot)

Closer look..really shimmering..real gold!

View of the Golden Temple from our hotel. It's surrounded by a Lake of Holy Water.

Look at the countless number of metal plates neatly stacked after wash..

Communal hall for free food 24 hours daily.

Volunteering our time at the temple. Cleaning the drinking cups.

Jeff helping to wash the square that surrounds the temple. They washed it twice a day! No wonder our feet were still clean walking barefooted.

Huge pots and stoves used to cook the food served daily..

Volunteers washing plates..everything was very systematic!

From peeling and cutting onions, garlics, vegetables to cooking, serving food, all done orderly.

Golden Temple in the day!

The marble tower surrounding the golden temple.

See the reflections on the lake..

Real gold ceiling..(we couldn't get more shots as no photography was allowed in the temple) and the reason why the gold still shines cos they oil it every few hours!!!

Those who can afford will buy offerings (sweet sticky stuffs) into the temple. It's collected and redistributed to all who enter. Another act of their beliefs in giving & sharing.

Final shot of the Golden Temple before we left...

Jeff's worn out slippers from the walking.. (new slippers!)